Picture Sunday: Mini DAPs – Hidizs & Cayin

This week’s picture Sunday features the new Hidizs AP60 and Cayin N3 mini DAPs. To check out recent Picture Sunday Posts click HERE.

Is it a coincidence that two unrelated companies launch a new mini DAP around the same time? I don’t think so. After a long period of increasing DAP prices – we’re up in to the thousands now and find that normal – it seems the consumer and audiophile want to go back to the basics of DAPs: high end sound in a small form factor with not too many bells.

I should apologize to Cayin and Hidizs actually for calling these mini DAPs as they’re only mini in size and price. Looking at their capabilities, they play all the different formats, work with playlists, supply OTG, have BT, etc etc etc. They’re packed with a lot for only little money, it’s that simple.

A lot of people seem to be interested in hooking up these mini DAPs to the Chord Mojo or other portable DAC/Amps to increase their sound quality. Others absolutely can’t understand this and wonder why we even need a “cheap” DAP if you can use your phone as source. I’m not going to discuss it with “them”, let’s just stick to the fact that a phone is called a phone for a reason.

Others want to link these DAPs to their phone where they can stream from Tidal or whatever and listen to it on the N3/AP60. I’ve been using both the AP60 and N3 the last week (just as DAP for on the go) and they both have good things going for them. The AP60 and N3 UI-wise are similarly built and offer the same type of navigation and options. They don’t sound very much alike though.

In the upcoming review of both DAPs we’ll be comparing them to each other form-, usability- and sound-wise. I’m not going to spoil too much yet but you’d be surprised what sub $100 DAPs nowadays can do.

Lieven is living in Europe and he's the leader of the gang. He's running Headfonia as a side project next to his full time day job in Digital Marketing & Consultancy. He's a big fan of tube amps and custom inear monitors and has published hundreds of product reviews over the years.